Info

Valikko

Chamber Music in the Sunshine Town

Naantali is one of the oldest and most highly-esteemed of the Finnish music festivals. The repertoire focuses on chamber music in all its variety. Each year the programme is further enhanced by recitals by top world artists and visits by celebrated orchestras.

The Naantali Music Festival is renowned for its high artistic standard, its idyllic concert venues and its timing at the beginning of June, marking the start of the Finnish festival season. Its artistic excellence has on many occasions won it international acclaim.

The first Naantali Music Festival was held in June 1980, on the initiative of the distinguished cellist Arto Noras. Since then, many of the world's most illustrious artists and ensembles have been heard in the Naantali and nearby churches: Pierre Fournier, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Emil Gilels, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Barbara Hendricks, Isaac Stern, Paul Tortelier, Grigory Sokolov, Krzysztof Penderecki, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and many, many more.

In addition to Arto Noras, its Artistic Director, the Naantali Music Festival has featured most of Finland's finest musicians. During the past few years it has also included such ambitious stage productions as Benjamin Britten's seldom-heard church parable Curlew River and a Festival commissioned, Aulis Sallinen's Barabbas Dialogues.

Naantali is an idyllic little town of music, sea and sunshine. Your concert visit to Naantali may be a delight for all the senses. A meal before or after the concert at one of the many restaurants rich in atmosphere in the old town with its wooden houses, a visit to the garden at Kultaranta, the official summer residence of the Finnish President, afternoon tea or coffee in a romantic café or a walk along the waterside promenade all help to make your visit one never to be forgotten.

We extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to all who love chamber music: come to Naantali and experience the power of music to raise you above the everyday world.